North London rivals set for battle over summer free agent
Bitter city rivals seem destined to clash once more this summer as Arsenal are reportedly mounting interest in the signature of Rene Adler.
The goalkeeper’s contract at Bayer Leverkusen is set to expire in the summer and after the emergence of young stopper, Bernd Leno, Adler has announced that he will be leaving the Bundesliga outfit this summer.
Tottenham were rumoured to be looking at the 27 year-old over the winter transfer window but are expected to revive interest in the summer with the player available on a free transfer.
Spurs are expected to let Heurelho Gomes get his way and leave White Hart Lane at the end of this season and rather than have just Carlo Cudicini as cover for Brad Friedel, Adler could be drafted in as cover.
Despite Leno assuming the number one spot at the BayArena, Adler is still a considerable talent and provides all the qualifications of a past German international, only being held back in recent years due to injuries.
Arsenal have a top class prospect of their own between the posts in the form of Wojciech Szczesny but Lukas Fabianksi, Manuel Almunia and Vito Mannone won’t be expected to play much of a role at the Emirates Stadium in the future.
Adler wouldn’t be the first German ‘keeper to make an impact with the North London side, with Jens Lehmann spending a successful six seasons with the Gunners.
The 27 year-old hasn’t featured for Leverkusen this season but if Adler could return to full match fitness and revive the kind of form that saw him carve out a name for himself as one of Germany’s best goalkeepers, Arsene Wenger could acquire a very economical asset this summer.
